Senior Public Health Strategist

We are looking for a candidate with experience in public health commissioning. A strategic thinker with a proven track record in managing complex public health initiatives, particularly in sexual health, working collaboratively with the team and wider partners to improve outcomes and tackle inequities. We are looking for someone who will thrive in a senior post, forming part of our senior management team, and contributing to the strategic leadership of both the portfolio and our public health team.

• Significant experience in public health, including in commissioning and service management. Experience in sexual health would be seen as a positive.
• A strong commitment to diversity, inclusivity and health equity.
• Skills in data analysis, needs assessments, and evidence-based public health interventions, with a focus on improving access and outcomes for marginalized groups.
• Experience in programme management, working with partners to deliver strategies and action plans for clear impacts and results.
• Experience supporting colleagues in a team environment, with a focus on developing an inclusive team culture and ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.
• Strong communication skills - you will need the ability to engage with diverse communities, challenge inequalities, and advocate for improvement and systemic change within and outside the Council.
• Resilience & Adaptability - an ability to work in a fast-paced and evolving environment while maintaining a focus on equity and inclusion.

Main duties of the job

The Waltham Forest Public Health team is committed to building a more inclusive and equitable health system, and we are excited to offer the opportunity for a Senior Public Health Strategist to join our passionate and diverse Public Health team. This role will focus on Sexual Health, with the goal of ensuring all residents, regardless of background, have access to high-quality, culturally competent services.

You will work closely with a Consultant in Public Health, leading commissioning, managing service performance, and overseeing the local delivery of the North East London Joint Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy.

You will have a key role in commissioning and managing a range of sexual health services, including specialist Sexual Health services, HIV support services, and Primary Care Sexual Health services. The focus will be on creating accessible, inclusive services that address the needs of Waltham Forest's diverse and vibrant communities.

The role also includes partnership working with other boroughs, statutory partners, healthcare providers, and our communities to reduce health inequalities and improve sexual health outcomes for everyone, particularly those from underserved and historically marginalized communities.

About us

The London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work, bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven, and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.

London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London's Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair, and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression, and diversity and recruitment.

We encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from those who identify as Black, Asian, or from Global Majority communities. We also welcome applications from people of all genders, sexual orientations, and disabilities, and welcome applications from those who would like to work less than full time.

Job responsibilities

To lead, plan, develop, and deliver an expert professional service within the relevant service area. To support the development, management, and delivery of Council services. Manage staff responsible for service delivery/support within the service area. To ensure the Council maximizes service outcomes in relation to cost.

Manage highly complex/high risk issues within a framework of policy and regulatory guidelines. Objectives and targets are developed and agreed in line with the service plan. High level of discretion and use of initiative in deciding what course of action to take. Exercise expert judgement in assessing complex stakeholder requirements, potential risk, and managing quality assurance of service. Significant expert knowledge and significant experience is required to resolve highly complex issues and proactively anticipate and mitigate problems. Design and develop innovative solutions which enhance the quality and efficiency of services and the reputation of the council.

Occasionally the post will be expected to work from other locations.

Enable others to understand changes and developments in the relevant area and learn new processes/procedures.

Responsible for ensuring contractors/providers deliver to agreed standards.

May manage project teams of both internal staff and external contractors/consultants.

No budget responsibilities, but may lead on commissioning of services with value up to £5 million.

Supervisory responsibilities, in which line management of up to two members of staff.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent vocational qualification in relevant subject area or in a related discipline or equivalent knowledge gained through substantial experience.
• Demonstration of public health competencies through achievement of Part A Public Health examination, or other evidence of learning and development in public health competencies (e.g. PH portfolio; UKPHR registration; scientific publications; conference presentations; significant evidence-based public health outputs).
• Management qualification or demonstrable equivalent knowledge.

Experience

• Effective communication skills - oral, presentational, written and producing reports and action plans.
• High standard of report writing skills, demonstrated by the ability to write and contribute to reports of varying length and complexity, for a variety of audiences, in a format where implications of the report are fully understood and inform strategic decision-making.
• Effective usage of technical public health skills in relation to critical appraisal of evidence, and interpretation of health intelligence.
• Good time management and prioritisation skills, ability to use own initiative to manage a number of projects simultaneously, ensuring planning, organising and prioritising workload to meet project deadlines.
• Evidence of continuous personal and professional development.

Knowledge and Skills

• At least 3 years' experience of operating as a public health strategist.
• Experience of working in health services, local authority or relevant voluntary or public sector setting sufficient to develop an understanding of how complex public sector and/or voluntary sector organisations work and a demonstrable ability to negotiate relationships with internal and external partners.
• Evidence of successfully developing, delivering, and evaluating health-related policies/strategies within a local authority/health and/or community/voluntary sector context.
• Evidence of successful management of complex multi-agency working with public, private and voluntary/community sectors.
• Knowledge of best practice in management information systems, knowledge management, and records management (including electronic document and records management systems) and their application within the NHS and Local Authority.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.